That “stupid shit” is a response to the blatant disregard that Christians in government have in violating the American Constitution that they have sworn to uphold

I totally understand that Reg and I also totally agree. But to be honest with you something like that would have really scared my son a few years back. It’s creepy and really not sensitive to people with kids.

We do not believe in the god you profess to belief in. You seem to have your own new version of Christianity, one you say is not religious and in which you have a personal relationship with a god you claim cannot be defined.

I suppose having a statue of dying man nailed to a cross with blood running from his wounds and thorns sticking out of his head is okay for children to see? Dressing kids up as demons and ghouls for Halloween is okay for them too.

@strega, I will photocopy some of my pamphlets and post them over to you. I will make the copies doubled sided to be environmentally friendly and to cut down on postage costs. Wait, I will just pick one at random and send that instead. Then you can drop into your local copy shop and make as many as you need.

I suppose having a statue of dying man nailed to a cross with blood running from his wounds and thorns sticking out of his head is okay for children to see? Dressing kids up as demons and ghouls for Halloween is okay for them too.

I have complained about those crucifixes here on more than one occasion. When I was 11 I was in hospital for a few days. There was a 8 foot one hanging on the wall opposite my bed. I demanded to be moved to another ward. The nuns were not happy but ended up moving me when I start reciting the “Hail Mary” backwards and refused to take any medicine. 40 years later and I still complain but now it is on behalf of parents whose children are bombarded with the Zombie Jesus in non religious schools that vulgar Catholics won’t leave the fuck alone. I suppose I must be a committed atheist.haha!! The deluded ones would love to see me committed.

Belle do you think it might help if you took a break for a few days from these discussions? Give yourself some time and space to figure things out. Even if you don’t yet make sense of it just give your head some space, some peace. I go full tilt all day when it comes to arguing these sorts of topics. We are on your side. You are here too long for us not to be concerned for your welfare. We don’t want you to leave for good or anything but a break is probably a good move?

@Belle I’ve mentioned this before, but the biggest reason I identify myself as an atheist is to push back against all the peer pressure foisted onto others to conform to the local belief system. Most terrible of all are the theocracies who put religion into law and prescribe official punishments, so in that respect I feel like a lucky atheist in spite of all the religious panderers thriving in our government.

Without theism being forced on people, I’m certain there’d be no need for atheism, and atheism would surely disappear. I dislike pushing the word delusion because it can strongly imply that more blame belongs to the victim than to the culture at large that’s pushing the ancient, traditional beliefs. I feel sorry for North Korean cult members (suffering from their more modern, foisted delusion), persecuted Muslim apostates, and other victims who aren’t even allowed to realize that other choices are available. I rarely get angry these days, but when I do, it’s usually because of arrogant people manipulating others who are just innocently powerless or under-educated or under-informed.

As difficult as it can be for human beings to think rationally for themselves, I think you’re way ahead of most human beings. You’ve had a rough road, and enough good reasons to be angry for what you’ve been through.

Knowing you as well as I think I do, and perhaps because of one of my daughters once younger with anger and stubbornness who’s now the coolest adult one could ever meet, I still enjoy some of the times you express anger. Stay honest and strong; no one knows everything; those who aggressively tell you how wrong you are are too often the least wise of all.

Idk all I know is I’m like starting from square one and it’s frustrating as hell. Everything I thought I was sure about turns out nothing I thought was true is and my whole fucking life is one big web of confusion and I don’t know up from down and I have no way to know what to do from here. And I can’t trust anyone. Everyone has fucked with me and hurt me and I want to die